Chapter 25:
June 2nd 2012
"Wow your Mom said that?" Rachel asked in surprise as she looked up at Quinn.
"Yeah," Quinn said quietly yet proudly as she looked down at Rachel and placed a hand softly on the brunettes head.
Currently the two were enjoying a rare quiet Saturday together in the park, Quinn was sitting down crossed legged on the grass by the lake and Rachel had her head in Quinn's lap.
"That's awesome," Rachel said.
"It is," Quinn said with a smile as she looked at the water.
"So, what are you going to do if he tries to come near you again?"
"I have no idea, I don't even know why he wants to come back so bad,"
"To reconcile maybe?"
"I told you what he said, how is that reconciliation?"
"I don't know, maybe he was just shocked,"
"Maybe, he's still an ass though,"
"He is, anyway enough about him, what shall we do after this?"
"No idea, I like it here, it's peaceful just sitting here with you,"
"I'd say the same but I'm lying down,"
Quinn just let out a small laugh.
"So, future, what do you plan to do?" Rachel asked Quinn as she took the blonde's hand in hers and caressed it softly.
"I'm thinking it over, maybe work and travel for a year, I mean everyone wants to go from study to study and I get that, but I feel that I need a break from books, I just want to see the world, you?" Quinn said then asked.
"Kurt was mumbling to me about NYADA,"
"Nee what?"
"NYADA, the New York Academy of the Dramatic Arts, it seems like a great place,"
"I thought Julliard would be the place to go,"
"Same here,"
"I was just wondering though, why do you want to go to a Acting…"
"Arts,"
"Arts College?"
"I don't know,"
"You know that not all Broadway actresses went to college right?"
"I do, but a part of me just wants to go,"
"Hmmm, I see,"
"Question,"
"Yes?"
"Since when are you talking to Kurt, you've been avoiding everyone there like the plague minus Brittany, Tina, Santana, and I,"
"I wasn't talking to him, I just heard him talk about it,"
"Are you ever going to come back to Glee?"
"No not this time, I know that I should but I'm tired of being used as 'The Voice',"
"And I won't let them use you, I promise that," Quin said as she stroked Rachel's hair with her free hand.
"How's the lumbering oaf going?"
"Rachel!"
"What? He is a lumbering oaf,"
"He's still lumbering, but he is having a harder time now that you're gone, seems to be that everyone now realises how much effort you actually put into it with the costume ideas, the music, and the band,"
"Aha,"
"Finn's also still confused as to why neither of us are chasing him,"
"What happened to Tabby? The girl who was chasing him?"
"I have no idea, I'm still confused on that one,"
"Right,"
"By the way, speaking of Glee, Tina's doing a great job with the costuming,"
"I know she is, I was there helping her pick fabrics, that girl knows her stuff,"
"Yes she does,"
"I wish she was coming to NYADA with me, Brittany is going to L.A. to dance, Santana is going 'god knows where', you are potentially traveling, I'll be alone in New York, what if I don't make it?"
"You will be okay,"
The two went quiet for a moment as Rachel kissed Quinn's fingers making the blonde look down and smile at her.
"Don't worry so much about your future Rachel, you'll be fine, just don't make stupid decisions," Quinn said as she let her other hand stroke the brunettes hair.
"Like what?" Rachel asked.
"I don't know, like taking a television role part way through your Broadway one,"
"Huh?"
"Okay say you got a fantastic opportunity to act on the Broadway stage,"
"Which would be great,"
"Yes, and a few months in a television producer sees you and offers you a role on television in L.A., I'd think it'd be silly for you to take it when you're only part way through your Broadway act,"
"Oh right, got you, um I don't know, I mean a part of me would see this as an opportunity that I may never get again but then again if I just leave the Broadway part then it'll be harder for me to get a Broadway career because then I'd just be seen as a diva who abandons her work at moment's notice, hmmm, that is a bit of a conundrum,"
"Yes it is, I still think it'd be silly of you to abandon a role so don't,"
"I'll do my best not to be rash about it,"
"Good, don't let that beautiful voice of yours go to waste,"
"I'll try,"
Quinn smiled as she leaned down and kissed Rachel's lips softly, "So, Rachel, I have to break the mood of peace and ask, where to from here?"
"Where to from here with what?" Rachel asked.
"Us,"
"Oh,"
"I want there to be an official us, Rachel, you and me and nobody else,"
"We don't actually have anyone else,"
"You know what I mean,"
"I do,"
"Will you give me a chance to really be your girlfriend Rachel?"
Rachel thought for a moment as she looked up cheekily at Quinn and said, "No,"
"Oh," Quinn said deflated.
"I'm joking, yes, I'd love to,"
"Oh thank god, I felt like an idiot for a moment, you are such a mean thing,"
"I know,"
Quinn didn't let her say anything else as she leaned in a kissed Rachel's lips again.
November 22nd 2073
"Aww that's very sweet," Lu-Lu said with a smile, "Rachel reminds me of you, you are a very mean little thing sometimes,"
Bell just laughed, "Yeah, the similarities are uncanny, anyway, that's enough for now, I'm very tired,"
"Oh right, yes, you need to rest well,"
"And I will,"
"Goodnight Sweetie,"
"Goodnight, I'll be seeing ya,"
November 23rd 2073
Lu-Lu was sitting in the breakfast room just reading and listening in to the conversation around her as she was waiting for Bell to show up. Breakfast was good and quiet, she did have a good chat with a few of the other elderly ladies who were there.
They reminisced about the good old days and how the technology of today was making kids even worse than in their age.
"There is no real communication anymore, my grandson has to be literally unplugged from that stupid phone of his," Wanda said as the other ladies laughed, including Lu-Lu; who had then looked up from her book.
"Yes in my day I would just stare at my phone, now apparently you can just plug yourself in, it is a very weird thing," another woman said.
"I stopped using my phone so much after a road accident," Lu-Lu said.
"Oh really?"
"Yes, I was texting and driving and then boom, my friend and I were hurt bad from what I can remember,"
"Technology, despite it's good parts, is on a bad and deadly rise,"
"I'll say," Miriam said, "People just aren't doing what they should anymore, always glued to those screens, never talking, and if they are they're anonymous,"
"That's what we get for the 'progressing' world though isn't it?" Wanda added in question as the other woman nodded their heads in agreement.
"By the way, where's that wife of yours Lu-Lu?" Miriam asked.
"Pardon?" Lu-Lu asked in surprise.
"Bell, where is she?"
"She's not my wife,"
"I thought she was,"
"I, wait," Lu-Lu felt her mind race a bit as it struggled to remember something.
"Oh leave her alone Miriam, don't startle the poor woman," Wanda said.
"Come to think of it I haven't seen the old girl since yesterday, the nurses kept running in and out of her room for the better part of the evening," another woman said.
"What?"
"Yeah, seems the old girl isn't going so well, her heart I hear is getting worse, may not be long now,"
"Hush now Stacey, don't say such nonsense, especially in front of Lu-Lu," Wanda berated.
"I have to go," Lu-Lu said as she got up, "I will see you ladies tomorrow,"
- page break -
Lu-Lu didn't know what to do or say as she got up and walked towards Bell's room.
Nurse Mary saw her walking and walked up to her wanting to give her news but first asked, "Lu-Lu where are you going?"
"I have to see Bell," Lu-Lu said.
"Oh you can't today,"
"Why?"
"She took a turn for the worse last night, her family were notified and she has been shifted temporarily to the hospital section of Sunny Oaks,"
"What?"
"I'm sorry Lu-Lu but they fear she won't make it through the night so they're keeping her under observation just in case,"
"Why didn't anyone tell me? Why?"
"They didn't want to worry you, I was actually on my way to find you and tell you,"
"When did you know?"
"Five minutes ago when I arrived for the start of my shift,"
"I want to see Bell, I have to know,"
"Know what?"
"Who is she? Who is she to me?"
"Well,"
"Is she my wife? Did I marry her? Why can't I remember her?"
Nurse Mary hesitated for a moment then let Lu-Lu sit down before saying, "Bell and you are married, yes she is your wife, and you can't remember because you suffer from dementia and that is affecting your memory,"
"Why didn't she tell me?"
"Bell and you had an agreement before you moved here, I know because on the days you do remember you tell me about it, if you were to forget, Bell would have to be just your friend because she didn't want you to panic, a part of you when you started to forget would be in the mind-set of how you once were before you two got together but were still open minded, it's why you're in a different wing from her,"
"Is that why she reads to me?"
"Yes and no, she reads to you every day, starts with one book and then another, I don't know why but recently she's been wanting to read that notebook of hers,"
"I have to see her,"
"I'm afraid I can't..."
"I want to see her, please take me to her,"
"Lu-Lu please calm down," But as she said that Nurse Mary could see it, something had changed again in Lu-Lu's eyes as she became frantic. A part of her was forgetting again.
"Where is she? Where is Bell? Why hasn't she come to see me today?" Lu-Lu asked frantically.
"Oh dear," Nurse Mary said as she stood in front of Lu-Lu, "Lu-Lu, I need you come calm down, okay,"
"Where has Bell gone? Where is she?"
"Bell will see you when she's well again, now Lu-Lu you need to follow me and we will go to your room where you can rest, Bell will be okay,"
"I want to see her, where is she?"
"Lu-Lu please calm down,"
But the old woman wouldn't. Nurse Mary worried that she'd have to sedate her as Lu-Lu started to get up and tried to walk to Bell's room.
"Lu-Lu, please, you can't just go in there," Nurse Mary started.
"I want her back, I need her back," Lu-Lu cried.
Whatever else could be said wasn't as the other nurses came and helped Nurse Mary escort Lu-Lu back to her room and gave her a shot to calm down.